Air America Poll Shows 90% Want Bush Crimes Investigated

by Justin Martell

Air America conducted a recent poll in which 9,000 or 90% of its respondents would like to see members of the Bush Administration do time in prison for alleged war crimes.

The poll was conducted in response to Joe Klein of Time Magazine's idea that a pardon from President Obama for George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and Donald Rumsfeld for War Crimes "would brand them for crimes without the agony of a trial."

For Air America's respondents, that is not enough. In addition to wanting members of the Bush Administration to serve jail sentences, some would like to see them serve those terms after being subjected to "enhanced interrogation techniques."

This has not been the first sign that many would like to see see the Bush Administration investigated. Just a week ago a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll of 1,027 respondents indicated that 38% wanted a criminal investigation while 24% favored an independent inquiry.

Calls for investigations did not surface after the Bush Administration left office. While top Democrats like Nancy Pelosi have opposed prosecution of the Bush Administration, 56 house Democrats signed a letter to then Attorney General Michael Mukasey calling for an war crimes investigation with regard to the administration's interrogation tactics last June. Also in the same month, Congressman Dennis Kucinich introduced 35 articles of impeachment against President Bush.

President Obama has said very little as to whether he intends to support the prosecution of Bush Administration officials. The most he ever elaborated on the issue was during an interview with the Philadelphia Daily News, saying, "I would want to find out directly from my attorney general--having pursued, having looked at what's out there right now--are there possibilities of genuine crimes as opposed to really bad policies."

Sources:

http://www.pubrecord.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=110:house-democrats-want-bush-administration-investigated-for-war-crimes&catid=6:law&Itemid=9

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-02-11-investigation-poll_N.htm

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/128423/

http://www.pubrecord.org/docs/mukasey_letter_060708.pdf

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/11/kucinich.impeach/

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Dark Windows Teaser

Here is the teaser for our latest project, Dark Windows:

Barack Obama to Send Additional Troops to Afghanistan

by Justin Martell

President Obama announced today that he has ordered 17,000 additional troops to be sent to Afghanistan to help suppress Taliban insurgents.

The specific purpose of the deployment is to help the 37,000 U.S. troops already stationed there as well as Canadian, Dutch, and British soldiers that are helping to fight against Taliban forces that have been gaining both ground and support for their movement in the past few months.

The president acknowledged the serious nature of his decision, saying, "There is no more solemn duty as president than the decision to deploy our armed forces into harm's way...I do it today, mindful that the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan demands urgent attention and swift action."

Since the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan in 2001, the Taliban has been mostly limited to operating in the mountain regions on the Afghan-Pakistan border where it is difficult for U.S. military forces to locate them. However, just last week Taliban suicide bombers and gunman killed 20 people in and around government offices in Kabul, which has been though to be the safest area in the entire country.

U.S. Military commanders in Afghanistan have been requesting more troops for several months and are now having their requests granted. The fact that the Obama Administration has been planning to scale back on the number of troops occupying Iraq has made this possible.

President Obama has not given a date as to when either occupation will come to an end.

Sources:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/12/world/asia/12afghan.html?hp

http://www2.canada.com/comoxvalleyecho/obama+orders+more+troops+into+afghanistan/1299442/story.html?id=1299442

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/4684237/Barack-Obama-deploys-17000-more-troops-to-Afghanistan.html

www.formyourown.org

Leahy Proposes Bush Truth and Reconcilation Commission

by Justin A. Martell

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) has proposed establishing a commission to investigate the actions of the Bush Administration.

The Bush Truth and Reconciliation Commission, as it is tentatively called, will look into several allegations made against the Bush Administration which include, but will not be limited to, torture and illegal wiretapping.

"There are some who oppose any effort to investigate the misdeeds of the past," said Sen. Leahy while speaking at Georgetown University on Feb. 8. Leahy went on to cite a recent example in which during the nomination hearing of current Attorney General Eric Holder, several Republican Senators "tried to extract a devils bargain with him...a commitment that he would not prosecute anything that happened on President Bush's watch. That is a pledge no prosecutor should give and Eric Holder did not give it. And because he did not it counts for some of the votes against him. That is not an example we should give for a country that believes in the rule of law and believes no one is above the law."

The purpose of the Commission would not be to serve indictments, but rather to get a clear understanding of the facts. The idea is to "not just wipe the slate clean, but learn the truth," Leahy said.

Even some Democrats have opposed looking into the actions of the Bush Administration claiming that the nation must look forward and not backward. Leahy responded directly to those critics, saying, "sometimes the best way to move forward is to find out the truth, find out what happened, and we do that to make sure it never happens again."

On Tuesday, Leahy met and discussed his plans with White House Chief Counsel Craig Greg. Greg did not give Leahy an answer as to whether the White House will back his proposal but said that they will "talk further."

Leahy's office has launched a website that features an online petition for those who support his call for the creation of such a commission.

Sources:

http://www.bushtruthcommission.com/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/10/exclusive-leahy-talks-to_n_165774.html

www.formyourown.org

President Obama Meets with 9/11 and U.S.S. Cole Family Members

by Justin A. Martell

President Obama shared with family members of the victims of the U.S.S. Cole bombing of 2000 and the attacks of September 11th, 2001 his plans to bring the perpetrators to justice.

While family members of 9/11 attacks met with members of the Bush Administration, this is the first time family members of the U.S.S. Cole bombings have been able to meet with a president. The majority of the 35 minute discussion centered around President Obama's plans to close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay within a year. Some of the attendees expressed support for Obama's plans while others expressed skepticism. The skepticism wasn't so much with Obama's plan to close facility, but how exactly he plans to do it in a responsible fashion that will hold those responsible accountable.

"In principle, his reason for closing it may be good," commented retired Navy Cmdr. Kirk S. Lippold. Lippold was the commander of the U.S.S. Cole when a bomb killed 17 U.S. Sailors under his command in October of 2000. "The problem I have remains that we still don't have any procedures for what will become of the terror suspects after the detention center is closed."

Also present at the meeting were the September 11th Advocates, also known as the "Jersey Girls." All four women lost their husbands in the World Trade Center and were instrumental in the creation and oversight of the 9/11 Commission. These widows have since been very critical of the 9/11 Commission's investigation and the Bush Administration. In 2007, all four of them called for an entirely new investigation into 9/11 after details of communications between Karl Rove and the 9/11 Commission Executive Director during the time of the 9/11 Commission's investigation came to light.

A statement released today by the September 11th Advocates showed support for Obama's plans and slammed the policies of the Bush administration, saying, "President Obama has paused all proceedings at Guantanamo Bay for 120 days in order for his legal team to attempt to design a system in which the verdicts will withstand the scrutiny of the inevitable appeals process. He is rightfully attempting to fix the quagmire that was created by the previous administration."

President Obama assured the family members that they will have an open line of communication with the White House.

Sources:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/05/AR2009020502847.html

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gLy-7Qsm2KeE15rL6Is9p56BcWhwD96618180

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gLy-7Qsm2KeE15rL6Is9p56BcWhwD966BVUO0

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/more-info/story/892040.html

http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=20090210191222126

www.formyourown.org

Pierce Arrow Covers Canvassers

Here is the Pierce Arrow's coverage of my latest film project:

"Canvassers" premieres as a huge success
by Erica Tomaszewski

On December 5, 2008, "Canvassers" premiered in the Fitzwater Center's television studio to a sold-out audience of over 100 people. 100 DVDs were sold, and talk of the film's success circulated throughout campus.

Now, after the premiere of "Canvassers," the guys of Googly Films and Jonesi Production have been hard at work preparing for every major film festival in the United States. Directors Jeff Cornell and Justin Martell say they have their work cut out for them, but are excited about where this film can take them. The directors are currently in heavy negotiation with record companies to obtain festival rights to copyrighted music used in the film. Cornell and Martell plan to enter the film into the Rhode Island film festival first, and then every other film festival in the country.

Martell says the movie is roughly based on his own experiences as a canvasser over the summer. "It's a political comedy that combines my experience working as a political activist, being actively involved in the primary elections, and working as a canvasser."

The film "Canvassers" is about The New England Environmental Preservation Group(NEEPG) and its mission to save the Sunderland Spring Planarian Flatworm from the evil Ireba Corporation, which is polluting a river where the flatworms live, causing their extinction. The NEEPG has one goal, and one goal only: to save the flatworm. The members of the group go door-to-door everyday to raise money and awareness for their cause. In the film the main characters Gary and Rich work as canvassers together for one day to save the Sunderland Spring Planarian. The movie follows the characters through their day of unforgettable experiences.

Friends on campus and family back home viewed the film, as well as several people in the movie industry. Martell says the film has been viewed and reviewed favorably by people in this tough industry and currently sits on the desk of MGM Studios. Cornell believes their film has a great chance because nothing like this has been done before. He believes this original idea has the potential to be a very successful big screen film. Cornell and Martell are currently proposing the original storyline hoping a big corporation will adapt it into a big screen film. Martell says "Canvassers" has commercial potential and marketing appeal, which could put it up with hit comedy films such as "Superbad" and "Pineapple Express."

Martell and Cornell are grateful for the support the campus has given them throughout their college career. Being seniors, both Cornell and Martell have had their fair share of advice and wanted to share some advice with other student filmmakers. Cornell said, "The most important thing you need is passion. It comes down to whether or not you have the passion to follow up on it, to sit in the suite hours and hours, rather than going out with your friends. Because this is the stuff we want to do when we get out of here."

Martell said, "The resources are here, you have to have the drive."

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